Corpses, Coffins, and Crypts

Starred review from December 15, 1997
Few readers will be able to put down Colman's (Rosie the Riveter) impeccably researched history of how cultures from ancient times to modern times honor (or dishonor) their dead. Using as a touchstone an example from her own life (the death of her great-aunt's husband, Willi Matousek), she traces the aftermath of death, from the survivors' initial reaction ("how do you know ?"), to the funeral or burial rite to the burial (or disposal) of the body itself. Colman manages to intertwine artlessly personal anecdotes alongside captivating facts from ancient history (e.g., in 212 B.C.E., the first emperor of China demanded the construction of a funeral vault that required thousands of workers who were then entombed alive to ensure they would not reveal the secret passageways to grave robbers) to today's information highway (e.g., on an Internet memorial park, plots cost $7-$15 and include e-mail tributes, photographs and recordings of the dead person's voice). Major historical events demonstrate her points, too: the high casualty rate during the Civil War drove the need to embalm soldiers so they could be shipped home. Well chosen black-and-white photographs range from the contemporary (a memorial mural in the South Bronx) to a print commemorating the victims of the Plague of 1665. By no means constructed of melancholy alone, the volume also includes moments of humor and inspiration. This is a book readers will pore over, not only for the wealth of absorbing information, but because Colman, in considering death on a global scale, allows readers to view it as a universal experience that connects them to others. Ages 9-up.

Starred review from December 1, 1997
Gr 6 Up-Death, the last stage of the human condition, has been underreported and mostly avoided in writing for young people. Colman takes on the task with just the right mix of unblinking realism and sensitivity to varieties of beliefs and practices. The eight chapters explain decomposition, cremation, and burials; describe rituals and ceremonies from many times and places; and show the impact of death and loss on those still living through epitaphs and artworks-some humorous, some poignant. Extensive research is evident throughout the book, from the wide and knowledgeable coverage of cultures and past times to the impressive bibliography. Black-and-white prints, art reproductions, and photographs fill the pages. The author avoids being morbid by using a conversational tone, often referring to her own experiences and relating anecdotes told to her by others. She also balances grim facts about embalming and mourning with accounts of curious and witty gravestones and eccentric burial requests, turning the otherwise dark material into entertaining reading. Lists of significant dates in funereal history (e.g., the beginnings of mound building, the first use of catacombs) and a guide to burial sites of famous people complete the coverage. This is a book that answers many questions and introduces fascinating facts. It should find many readers.-Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ

Starred review from November 1, 1997
Gr. 7^-12. "I've always loved cemeteries--they're brimming with art, architecture, history, horticulture, and stories--lots of stories." As this quote surely indicates, Colman's approach to her subject is worlds away from dry textbook tradition. Using heartfelt personal experience and comments from people she interviewed to moderate the visceral impact of the information, she explores death, generally from a secular perspective, and the customs that have grown up around it in cultures across the world and through history. She is both candid and detailed in her handling of the gruesome nitty-gritty, whether it concerns determination of death, corpse disposal, burial practices, or burial containers. Many of the photographs in the liberally illustrated text are from her own explorations, and all are captioned, some in great detail. This could easily have deteriorated into morbid or sensationalistic drivel. But in Colman's hands, it's certainly neither. For her, death is a fascinating and important subject, worthy of serious social commentary, and she's filled her sensitive, solid book with answers to questions people often need and want to know but are too reluctant to ask. A list of burial places of some famous people, a glossary, and an excellent bibliography are appended. ((Reviewed November 1, 1997))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1997, American Library Association.)